'Murder, She Wrote' Cast Secrets, Plus News About the Reboot!

For 12 seasons, from 1984 to 1996, Murder, She Wrote was one of the most watched shows on television for it’s beloved cast and clever storylines. The whodunit followed the adventures of Jessica Fletcher, a retired English teacher who finds fame as a mystery writer. She uses her knack for sleuthing to solve real-life murders in her small town of Cabot Cove, Maine.

And there were plenty of murders for her to solve. According to some calculations, if the fictional Cabot Cove had been a real town, its murder rate may have been the world’s highest!

When the show premiered, it was unlike anything else on television. Despite the murder-mystery premise, it wasn’t a typical action-packed crime caper. Although the character of Jessica was sharp-witted, it wasn’t a laugh-out loud sitcom either. And at 58 years old, Angela Lansbury wasn’t the typical Hollywood leading lady.

But Murder, She Wrote became one of the longest-running shows in history. It inspired four TV movies, two video games, an ongoing series of mystery books, and an upcoming movie reboot. In honor of Jessica Fletcher and her trusty sidekicks, we did some detective work. We dug up these interesting facts about the Murder, She Wrote cast.

Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher

Born in London in 1925, Angela Lansbury moved to the U.S. with her mother during World War II. She studied acting in New York City before moving to Hollywood. There, she landed her debut role as a maid in MGM’s Gaslight — and received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

She went on to receive two more Oscar nods for supporting roles in The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) and The Manchurian Candidate (1962). Lansbury also carved out a successful career on the stage. She won five Tony Awards along with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.

Related: Angela Lansbury Young: 10 Rare Photos of the Beloved Star Before ‘Murder She Wrote’

In the late 1960s, Lansbury faced challenges in her home life. Her two teenagers had gotten involved with drugs, and her daughter was associating with members of the Manson cult. When their Malibu home burned down in 1970, Lansbury made the decision to relocate her family to Ireland. There they were able to reconnect and get back on track.

Lansbury in Murder, She Wrote

After her children were grown and Lansbury had returned to the States, she landed the role of Jessica Fletcher. Lansbury was the only member of the Murder, She Wrote cast who appeared in every single episode of the show. She earned 12 consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Lansbury became the show’s executive producer in 1992.

Lansbury continued to work in movies and theater, with notable roles in Beauty and the Beast, Nanny McPhee, and Mr. Popper’s Penguins. In 2014, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. That earned her the title of Dame Angela Lansbury. She passed away on October 11, 2022 — five days before her 97^th birthday.

Did You Know?

The role of Jessica Fletcher was originally offered to actress Jean Stapleton. Stapleton was best known as Edith Bunker on All in the Family. When Stapleton turned it down, the role was offered to Lansbury. However, Lansbury had also been offered a role in a new sitcom, which her agents advised her to take. Luckily, she ultimately chose the role of Jessica!